Linda Cheeks ensures her foster children leave her care with a vital lesson: “Giving up is not an option.” The 66-year-old hair stylist from Dumfries, Virginia, teaches them, “It’s OK to fail. Just get back up. Don’t stay down.”
Cheeks' perseverance has led her to foster over 20 children, primarily teenagers, over the past 15 years. Recently, she was honored as the 2024 Prince William County “Foster Parent of the Year” by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). Each year, COG recognizes outstanding foster parents across 10 counties and cities, including Montgomery County, Maryland; Alexandria, Virginia; and D.C.
“These foster parents answer the call time and time again, even in difficult circumstances,” said Regina Lawson, co-chair of COG’s Foster Care Advisory Committee. “They step up with compassion, grace, and incredible dedication.”
The award was a pleasant surprise for Cheeks. “I’ve never thought about it because I’m busy all of the time,” she said.
Cheeks, a self-described “people person,” became a foster parent after a client’s suggestion. After completing the necessary classes and background checks, she welcomed her first foster children. Her bond with many of them remains strong, especially those who age out of the system. “They’re like family,” she said.
One remarkable transformation involved a teen with a habit of using profanity, breaking Cheeks’ rule to “speak to others with respect and kindness.” Despite the challenges, Cheeks persisted, and the teen now thrives in Louisiana.
Cheeks embraces the “it-takes-a-village” philosophy. Her biological daughter assists with the teens occasionally, and Cheeks also leans on friends, neighbors, and church members for support. Additionally, she volunteers at nursing homes, styling residents’ hair and offering companionship.
“You have to love people to do this work,” Cheeks said. “I think everybody is important.”
Though retirement is on the horizon, Cheeks has no immediate plans to stop. “You’re only as old as you feel. So, I say, ‘Do what you can while you can do it,’” she said.
Source
Photo: Getty